Methods and systems for managing multiple information handling systems with a virtual keyboard-video-mouse interface

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system includes a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems. The system also includes one or more chassis management controllers housed in the chassis. The chassis management controllers are configured to establish an authenticated session with available modular information handling systems present in the chassis, direct input/output communications between an information handling system designated as a selected information handling system and a remote management console coupled to the one or more chassis management controllers via a network, and maintain the authenticated sessions with one or more available modular information handling systems not designated as the selected information handling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems; one or more chassis management controllers housed in the chassis and configured to: 
 establish one or more authenticated sessions, wherein each authenticated session is established between a respective modular information handling system present in the chassis and at least one of the one or more chassis management controllers: 
 direct input/output communications between an information handling system designated as a selected information handling system and a remote management console coupled to the one or more chassis management controllers via a network; and 
 for each modular information handling system not designated as the selected information handling system, maintain the authenticated session associated with such information handling system; 
 wherein the one or more chassis management controllers are configured to maintain the authenticated sessions with the modular information handling systems not designated as the selected information handling system by communicating periodic heartbeat messages to the information handling systems. 
 
     
     
       2. The system according to  claim 1 , the input/output communications comprising at least one of video, keyboard, and mouse communications. 
     
     
       3. The system according to  claim 1 , the one or more chassis management controllers further configured to:
 receive an indication of a user desire to select a different information handling system as the selected information handling system; 
 direct input/output communications between the remote management console and the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system in accordance with the indication of the user desire; and 
 maintain the authenticated session with the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system prior to the indication of the user desire. 
 
     
     
       4. A method comprising:
 establishing one or more authenticated sessions wherein each authenticated session is established between a respective modular information handling stem present in a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and at least one chassis management controller received by the chassis: 
 directing input/output communications between an information handling system designated as a selected information handling system and a remote management console coupled to at least one chassis management controller via a network; and 
 for each modular information handling system not designated as the selected information handling system maintaining the authenticated session associated with such information handling system; 
 wherein maintaining the authenticated sessions with the modular information handling systems not designated as the selected information handling system comprises communicating periodic heartbeat messages to the information handling systems. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , the input/output communications comprising at least one of video, keyboard, and mouse communications. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of a user desire to select a different information handling system as the selected information handling system; 
 directing input/output communications between the remote management console and the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system in accordance with the indication of the user desire; and 
 maintaining the authenticated session with the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system prior to the indication of the user desire. 
 
     
     
       7. An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a non-transitory computer readable medium; 
 computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when executed, for causing the processor to: 
 establish one or more authenticated sessions wherein each authenticated session is established between a respective modular information handling system present in a chassis configured to receive a plurality of modular information handling systems and at least one chassis management controller received by the chassis; 
 direct input/output communications between an information handling system designated as a selected information handling system and a remote management console coupled to at least one chassis management controller via a network; and 
 for each modular information handling system not designated as the selected information handling system maintain the authenticated session associated with such information handling system; 
 wherein maintaining the authenticated sessions with the modular information handling systems not designated as the selected information handling system comprises communicating periodic heartbeat messages to the information handling systems. 
 
     
     
       8. The article according to  claim 7 , the input/output communications comprising at least one of video, keyboard, and mouse communications. 
     
     
       9. The article according to  claim 7 , the instructions for further causing the processor to:
 receive an indication of a user desire to select a different information handling system as the selected information handling system; 
 direct input/output communications between the remote management console and the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system in accordance with the indication of the user desire; and 
 maintain the authenticated session with the information handling system designated as the selected information handling system prior to the indication of the user desire.